Location Unknown.  (Courtesy of Karin Cleary.)

John Schwill (a regular cruiser), Mrs. Temple (Sophia) Wanamaker (winner of the Grand Derby Race), wife of American Consul, Cordoba, Argentina, and Danny Leone.  Mrs. Wanamaker is  the granddaughter of the composer/pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff.  (Courtesy of Danny Leone.)

President Frondizi of Argentina unveiling the plaque during the maiden voyage of the S.S. Argentina.  William T. Moore is on the left in dark suit and Staff Captain Robert H. Bradsell is behind President Frondizi.  (Courtesy of Robert and Kenneth Bradsell.)

Captain Robert H. Bradsell sailing as Captain of the S.S. Argentina (date unknown).  (Courtesy of Robert and Kenneth Bradsell.)

S.S. Argentina in port, January 3, 1960.  (Courtesy of Robert and Kenneth Bradsell.)

HOLLYWOOD ACTORS ON A BREAK?

Not quite - but a good guess.

It's actually off-duty Pursers from the S.S. Argentina girl-watching in Montevideo, Uruguay.  Meet Ray Neary (L) and Eddie Byrne (R) in 1959. (Courtesy of Ray Neary.)

S.S. Argentina at anchor at North Cape, Norway, July 1960. (Courtesy of Ray Neary.)

Commodore Thomas M. Simmons

Master of the S.S. Argentina

Born April 4, 1895, Saba Island, D.W.I.

Wife – Enid May Simmons.  Six children.

March 2, 1922 – Joined Munson S.S. Line as 3^rd Officer, S.S. Munargo.

January 11, 1923 – Appointed Chief Officer, S.S. Munargo.

June 21, 1924 – Became Master S.S. Excelsior, Munson Line.

Remained with Munson Line until June 14, 1938 as Master of S.S. Munplace, S.S. Munorleans, S.S. Munargo, S.S. Western World, S.S. Pan America, S.S. Southern Cross, and S.S. American Legion.

Munson Line taken over by Maritime Commission and Captain Simmons sailed as Master of S.S. Pan America under Commission from June 15, 1938 to August 21, 1938.

September 21, 1938 - Appointed Master S.S. Argentina, Moore-McCormack's American Republics Line.  Served as Master S.S. Argentina from that date until November 4, 1946 when ship was put in dry dock for reconversion.

November 5, 1946 - Appointed Assistant Port Captain, Moore-McCormack Lines, at Pier 32, North River.

January 15, 1948 – Appointed Master S.S. Argentina sailing her on her first post-war voyage.

August 5, 1958 – Left the S.S. Argentina after ringing down her engines for the final time before lay-up in the James River Reserve Fleet.

August 24, 1958 – Appointed Commodore, becoming first Commodore of Moore-McCormack Lines.

September 13, 1958 – Takes command of the new luxury ocean liner, S.S. Brasil for her maiden voyage to South America.

November 20, 1958 – Leaves the S.S. Brasil to take command of the Brasil's sister ship, the new luxury ocean liner, S.S. Argentina.

December 12, 1958 – Takes command of the new luxury ocean liner, S.S. Argentina for her maiden voyage to South America.

April 11, 1963 – Retires from his maritime career.

Dies March 27, 1970, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Ron Campana was a Kings Point cadet and the S.S. Argentina was his first ship as a cadet.  In July 1968 he sailed on the Scandinavia/Russia cruise.  Two days out of New York, a stewardess cabin had a small fire in it.  Because of this, the ship's master, Captain Scott, moved Campana from the Deck Cadets Cabin into the Engine Cadets Cabin. 

When the ship arrived back in New York, the Academy Training Representative, Captain Boyle, came on board and immediately went to the Deck Cadets Cabin.  Captain Boyle found women's underwear in the cabin and became quite furious.  He immediately proceeded to the Engine Cadets Room and told everyone the Deck Cadet was in serious trouble.  When Campana told him he was the Deck Cadet and tried to explain, the Captain made him go to Captain Scott's quarters.  When Campana explained to Captain Scott what was going on, Captain Scott looked at Captain Boyle and said, " A woman in his room?  Hmm, that should be grounds for dismissal!"  Campana nearly fainted.  A few seconds later Captain Scott told Captain Boyle he was only fooling and that Campana had been an excellent cadet who had to move cabins on his orders. 

Ron Campana also remembered they were in Leningrad the day Russia invaded Czechoslovakia and the ship was held pending the U.S. reaction.  Campana remembers vividly trading with the Russian military guards.  He gave them postcards of the ship and red, yellow, blue, and green flair felt-tip pens.  The Russians had never seen anything like the pens before.  So in return Campana received great Russian leather boots and a Russian black bear hats.

One of the jobs that Ron Campana had to do was at 0400 - 0500 hrs. every morning, he had to ask the passengers who were still in the bar to leave the area because the lounge had to be shut down for cleaning.  This is how Ron Campana learned to duck and move real fast!

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